Open AccessFlexible tool for simulating the bulk optical properties of polydisperse spherical particles in an absorbing host: experimental validation
Author(s) -
Ben Aernouts,
Rodrigo Watté,
Robbe Van Beers,
Filip Delport,
Martine Merchiers,
Jan De Block,
Jeroen Lammertyn,
Wouter Saeys
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.22.020223
Subject(s) - mie scattering , dispersity , refractive index , particle (ecology) , materials science , optics , discretization , range (aeronautics) , particle size , emulsion , optical tweezers , physics , light scattering , scattering , chemistry , mathematics , composite material , mathematical analysis , biochemistry , oceanography , polymer chemistry , geology
In this study, a flexible tool to simulate the bulk optical properties of polydisperse spherical particles in an absorbing host medium is described. The generalized Mie solution for Maxwell's equations is consulted to simulate the optical properties for a spherical particle in an absorbing host, while polydispersity of the particle systems is supported by discretization of the provided particle size distributions. The number of intervals is optimized automatically in an efficient iterative procedure. The developed tool is validated by simulating the bulk optical properties for two aqueous nanoparticle systems and an oil-in-water emulsion in the visible and near-infrared wavelength range, taking into account the representative particle sizes and refractive indices. The simulated bulk optical properties matched closely (R2 ≥ 0.899) with those obtained by reference measurements.